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Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Austrian

In Vienna’s Neubau district, a beautiful Biedermeier townhouse has been home to the Werkstätte Carl Auböck for more than 100 years. Inside the workshop, where production continues to this day, countless objects line the shelves, walls, tabletops and desktops.

The Viennese artist and designer Carl Auböck II was one of the quirkiest and most delightful and collectible of modern designers. A rather odd duck in the world of decorative arts, he was a peculiar talent whose specialties included smaller desk accessories and tabletop pieces such as corkscrews, paperweights, letter openers, bookends and bottle stoppers. He rendered these pieces in a combination of metal — most often brass — and such elemental materials as leather, knobby wood and animal horn, creating forms that could be almost Surrealist, from hands and feet to keys, birds and amoebae.

As a boy, Auböck was precocious and artistic. He studied drawing and at the same time trained in the workshop of his father, Karl Heinrich Auböck, a popular maker of traditional bronze figurines and collectibles. In 1919, Carl II went to Germany to study at the Bauhaus, where he was a pupil of the progressive artist and theorist Johannes Itten. While the Bauhaus is most associated with the rigidly ordered, functionalist architecture of its directors Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the school was in reality a liberal, spirited place — a crucible for imaginative, playful and avant-garde art and design. It was this spirit that imbued Carl II’s work from the time he left in 1921.

In 1922 or ’23, Carl Auböck II returned to Vienna to help care for his ailing father, and he took over the business. He created the Werkstätte Carl Auböck and a legacy that earned his objects cult status among collectors. The business was passed on to his descendants, who run the atelier that is still in operation today. Today, objects designed by Carl II make up 90 percent of Werkstätte Carl Auböck’s production, joined by the creations of architect and designer Carl IV, his grandson.

Vintage Auböck designs have a special character, a patina that only emphasizes how much the pieces have been loved and used. Carl Aubock II’s small furniture items — leather- or caned-sling magazine racks; free-edge wooden side tables with tubular bronze legs; wicker serving trolleys with turned beechwood wheels — are elegant and purposeful. His bijoux desktop objects, library tools, ashtrays and barware pieces evince a kind of mirthful practicality. They seem to ask: “If you need a corkscrew, or a paperweight, or a candlestick, why not make it fun as well as functional?” And indeed, why not?

Find a collection of vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck mirrors, seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Rare Carl Auböck Brass Standing Floor Ashtray, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful vintage and authentic minimalist standing ashtray from the 1950s, designed and crafted by Werkstätte Carl Auböck in Vienna, Austria. This sculptural piece features a tria...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #3844-2 Ashtray, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3844-2 ashtray, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #5556-2 Ashtray "Tune In", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #5556-2 ashtray "Tune In", Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Aluminum

Marked Carl Aubock Butler Brass Ashtray with Lid and Handle, Vienna, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and generously sized brass lidded ashtray with a carrying handle, model 3709 from the 1950s. Designed and crafted by the Werkstätte Carl Aub...
Category

Mid-20th Century Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #5556-1 Ashtray "Turn On", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #5556-1 ashtray "Turn On", Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Aluminum

Carl Auböck #3431 Ashtray "Leaf", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3431 ashtray "Leaf", Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck II Ashtray, Austria, circa 1948
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Carl Auböck II Model 3597 Ashtray, Austria, circa 1948 patinated brass stamped on the bottom great orignal patina - untouched very small flat area at lip of ledge also works very ...
Category

1940s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

small organic form brass ashtray element by Carl Auböck, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: ashtray element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s Description: Original 1950s ashtray eleme...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Vintage Carl Auböck Brass and Copper Floor Ashtray, Austria, Mod. 3866, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This very rare 1950s standing floor ashtray was designed by Carl Auböck and produced by Carl Auböck Wertstatten in Vienna in the 1950s. It is model number 3866. It has got a brass...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass, Copper

Carl Aubock Midcentury Black Cast Iron Bowl or Ashtray, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist metal bowl or ashtray, made of grey or black cast iron from the 1950s. Designed and manufactured by Carl Aubock in Austria. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Iron

Rare Carl Aubock Copper & Brass Tripod Floor Ashtray, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare modernist vintage floor standing ashtray from the 1950s, designed and executed by Carl Auböck, Vienna. The bowl of this beautiful...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass, Copper

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #4082 Ashtray, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4082 ashtray, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #4483 Ashtray "Triangle", Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4483 ashtray "triangle", Austria, 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #4610 Ashtray, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4610 ashtray, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brass Copper Carl Auböck Standing Ashtray Vienna 1950
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage brass and copper standing ashtray, which was designed by Carl Auböck and manufactured by Workshop Carl Auböck, Vien...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass, Copper

Carl Auböck #3979 Ashtray "Organic", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3979 ashtray "Organic", Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #4482 Ashtray Square, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4482 Ashtray square, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Butler Ashtray in brass for Illums Bolighus, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Eleganty crafted Brass ashtray with stylized walnut handle designed by Carl Aübock and produced under license by Illums Bolighus in the 1950’s. It was an expensive item in the 1950s ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Ashtray by Auböck 'Marked', circa 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Wien, AT
Ashtray by Auböck (Marked), circa 1960s Bamboo handle Original condition.
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Midcentury Scoop Bowl or Ashtray with Handle, Brass, Austria, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful modernist bowl or ashtray featuring a curved handle, shaped like a scoop. Made of polished solid brass. Designed and crafted by Werkstätte Carl Auböck in the 1950s, this ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Brass Ashtray, Model 3317, Austria 1935
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Den Haag, NL
Carl Auböck brass ashtray, model 3317, Austria 1935.
Category

1930s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Ashtray "Marked by Auböck"
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Wien, AT
Carl Auböck ashtray "Marked by Auböck" Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Original Aubock Brass Cigar Extinguisher trumpet
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
This brass cigar extinguisher is handcrafted at the original family workshop in Vienna, it it shaped as trumpet and feels satisfyingly weighty to the touch. Please note, as this piec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Original Auböck Ashtray and Extinguisher Made from Brass
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a beautiful set consisting of an ashtray and matching extinguisher. Both were crafted from brass and designed by the renowned workshops of Carl Auböck in Austria. The ash...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

#3655 Shovel Ashtray/ for the Palace Hotel/ Carl Aubock II, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Description: A solid, sand-cast brass shovel ashtray designed by Carl Auböck II during the 1950s; Engraved for the Palace Hotel, St Moritz, this unusual ashtray may have been one of...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Ashtray #4206-A, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray #4206-A, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck ashtray, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #3600-1 Ashtray "Crown", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3600-1 ashtray "Crown", Austria 2022. Also available in patinated brass.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #3600-2 Ashtray "Crown", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3600-2 ashtray "Crown", Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #3904-2 Ashtray, Austria, 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #3904-2 ashtray, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #4609 Ashtray, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4609 Ashtray, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck #4206-C Ashtray, Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #4206-C ashtray, Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Vintage attributed to Carl Aubock , Lighter Horn Design, Years 1970
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biella, IT
vintage attributed to Carl Aubock design in years ’70, lighter horn rare, perfect.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Metal

Carl Auböck 'Carolus VI' Brass Bottle Opener
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Cast brass bottle opener by the Auböck Werkstätte, Vienna, circa 1960. The piece is shaped as a coin to which the actual bottle opener is attached...
Category

1950s Danish Modern Vintage Werkstätte Carl Auböck Ashtrays

Materials

Brass

Werkstätte Carl Auböck ashtrays for sale on 1stDibs.

Werkstätte Carl Auböck ashtrays are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Werkstätte Carl Auböck ashtrays, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 21 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 16 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original ashtrays by Werkstätte Carl Auböck were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider ashtrays by Walter Bosse, Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien, and Herta Baller. Prices for Werkstätte Carl Auböck ashtrays can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $426 and can go as high as $12,712, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $617.

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